Headhunter

5-73 CAV and Their Fight for Iraq's Diyala River Valley

By: Peter C. Svoboda, Lt. Gen William B. Caldwell (Ret.) - foreword

Narrated by: David Marantz

Selected in 2005 by the army to be the first airborne reconnaissance squadron, 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, better known as 5-73 CAV, was formed from 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment. The members of the squadron were hand-selected by the squadron command team, Lieutenant Colonel Poppas and Command Sergeant Major Edgar. With just more than 400 paratroopers, they were half the size of a full-strength battalion and the smallest unit in the Panther Brigade.

The squadron deployed to eastern Diyala in August, 2006. Despite their size, they were tasked with an enormous mission and were given the largest area of operations within the brigade. Appropriately for a unit known by the call sign of its CO-Headhunter-5-73 would go on to pursue various terrorist factions including Al Qaeda in Iraq. They got results, and 5-73 was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for launching the Turki Bowl campaign from November 2006 to January 2007 against insurgent groups in Diyala Province. However the toll would be heavy-the squadron lost 22 paratroopers during the deployment.

Headhunter is a unique account of the War on Terror. It's a soldier's story, told by those very paratroopers who gallantly fought to tame Diyala.

©2020 Peter C. Svoboda (P)2021 Tantor

Do you want to have an Idea of what it is like?

This book flows like an detailed after action report. The reader is monotone and displays little connection. That connection is up to you.
Heart wrenching loss combined with fear as you imagine the firefights...

A great audible!

Phenomenal military book listen to. Being in 3rd Brigade myself and personally having Svoboda’s son in my unit, I felt I had to listen to this book. It did not disappoint. Lots of great men lost during that deployment. May they Rest In Peace.